Trouble Watching while recording

While the primetime records we have no problems but if we record one thing while the primetime records we can't watch anything other one of the five stations being recorded without being asked if we want to disrupt the recording. Naturally we don't want to disturb anything so two out of three tvs in the house is forced to watch one of these five shows while they record. Why can't we watch anything else while recording on each tv? Here is the layout in case you can't figure it out. All three tvs on, these five things recording, one tv can watch anything but the other two can only watchone of the five things being recorded. So if one of the tvs watching what's being recorded wants to watch something diffent the third tv needs to change to what's being recorded. This shared recording is confusing and stupid, its much easier with direct tv and xfinity where ever box has independant recording

Sounds like you have a Hopper/Joey installation. Alright, the tech should have told you that the Hopper only has three tuners. That means, you can only watch/record three things. The reason one tuner is able to record the five shows on one tuner is because it is set up as 'primetime anytime' . Again, this PTAT is only using one tuner. That means, you have two tuners left to watch/record. So say you are recording a program while PTAT is recording, you now only have one tuner to watch/record on. If you are recording three programs, or PTAT and two programs, you can only watch what has been previously recorded or watch what is currently being recorded. I know you may have said, 'Dish Network, I want four HDTVs watching HD channels', but the thing is, It doesn't work like that.

Hoppers are what do all the work, the Joeys do not have tuners themselves but instead have data sent through MOCA from the Hopper. Again, the tech should have told you this, and if you did not like it, he should have set up a 2 hopper, 2 joey install.

Thanks, and we only have three, a hopper and two joeys, we were told that's all we could have but now I understand, I remember direct tv being like that to where if you are at max recording you can't stray from those channels, but if we turn off a tv while its recording the PTAT and one other than both other tvs can watch whatever they want? That seems to work or at least my dad says it works that way but what you are saying sounds like only one tv should be able to watch whatever if the PTAT and an additional are recording and if PTAT and two extras are going than all three tvs must watch the recording shows and if only PTAT is recording that is the only time the other two tvs can watch whatever

Thanks, and we only have three, a hopper and two joeys, we were told that's all we could have but now I understand, I remember direct tv being like that to where if you are at max recording you can't stray from those channels, but if we turn off a tv while its recording the PTAT and one other than both other tvs can watch whatever they want? That seems to work or at least my dad says it works that way but what you are saying sounds like only one tv should be able to watch whatever if the PTAT and an additional are recording and if PTAT and two extras are going than all three tvs must watch the recording shows and if only PTAT is recording that is the only time the other two tvs can watch whatever

I am having a hard time following you. Turning a Television off does not change anything. All turning the TV off does is not show the video from the hopper/joey. Meaning, the Hopper/Joey is still on and doing what it would normally be doing if the TV were on.

If PTAT is on, then TWO tuners are available. So, your other two TVs could watch what they want. If one is recording while PTAT is recording, that means only ONE live program can be watched.

If PTAT is not recording, then THREE live programs may be watched. However, if you record on one, then only TWO live programs can be watched.

If you neede more tuners you should have 2 Hoppers. I know their policy is a minimum of one Joey for each Hopper, but there are plenty of posts in this and other Satellite TV forums on how to get around that. I personally kept the extra Joey (on a different HDMI port) and use it on my main TV to control my wife's upstairs Hopper and access an extra tuner if needed. It's worth the extra $7mo.